Vietnam allows foreigners stranded by pandemic to stay on

The Immigration Department said foreigners who entered Vietnam since March 1, 2020, are entitled to an automatic stay extension, and could depart the country without having to apply for it, the government news portal said.

For those who entered before March 1 too the automatic extension until Nov. 30 would be available subject to provision of proof the person was stranded due to Covid restrictions along with a translated and notarized note from relevant diplomatic missions or a written document from Vietnamese authorities saying the person was quarantined or treated for Covid-19.

Those who do not qualify or who commit violations will face charges.

To contain Covid, Vietnam closed its borders and canceled all international flights in March last year, allowing only Vietnamese repatriates and foreign experts and highly-skilled workers entry since then.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam last week proposed resumption of flights to 15 countries and territories: Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the U.K.

The nation welcomed just 3.83 million foreign visitors against a record 18 million in 2019, according to official data.